Improvement in piano-fortes



P. MATHUSHBK & H. MATHUSHEK, Jr.

Pianoforte.

Patented Feb. 4, 1879.

Fig.1.

mm YT.

M MEMO 'Wwkwmaaw. (9% D (W19; M

u PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGMPHER, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNtrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK llIATlIUSHEK AND HUGO MATHUSHEK, JR, OF MELROSE, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PlANO-FORTES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,029, dated February 4,1879; application filed September 18, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK Marne- SHEK and HUGO MA'rHUsnnK, J12, both of Melrose, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano -Fortcs, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanyin g drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan or top view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the plan am, Fi g. 1.

Similar letters indicate correspondingparts.

This invention consists in the combination, with a soundingboard, the sounding-board bridge, and the bridge-pins or agraffes which retain the strings on the sounding board bridge, of a hitch-pin block provided with terraces for supporting the hitch-pins at dif ferent levels above the soundingboard, one of said terraces being situated above, and the other below, the level of the surface of the soumling-bmird bridge, so that the dowi'iward strain of the strings running to the lower terrace is counterbalanced by the upward strain of the strings running to the upper terrace of the hitclrpin block, and thereby the sound ing-board is relieved from the strain of the strings.

Between the strings which run from the sounding-board to the terraces of the hitch-pin block bars of metal, wood, or other suitable material are inserted, to equalize the p and down strain of the strings. The wrest-plank bridge is cast solid with the metal frame, and its bcaringsnrfaceis on a level with the upper surface of the sounding-board bridge.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the sounding-board of a piano-forte, on which is firmly secured the sounding-board bridge 15. U represents the hitch-pin block, which, in the example shown in the drawings, is cast solid. with, and forms pa rt of, the metal frame 1); but, if desired, the hitch-pin block may be made separate, and secured to the metal frame in any desirable manner. Said hitch-pin, block is provided with two terraces, a b, in which are secured the hitch-pins c.

The terrace a is situated below, and the terrace 7) an equal distance, or nearly so, above, the level oi'thc surface of the sounding-board bridge B. The strings which run to the lower terrace, a, therefore, produce a downward strain upon the sounding-board, while the strings which run to the upper terrace, 6, pro duce an upward strain on the sounding-board; and if the strings are uniformly divided be tween said two terraces the upward strain of one portion of the strings is counterbalanced by the downward strain of the other portion, and the soundin g-board is practically relieved from all strain of the strings, either up or down.

The strings are retained on the soundingboard bridge by agraifes e or, if desired, ordinary bridge pins may be used; but the agrati'es are preferable.

Between those portions of the strings which extend from the sounding-board bridge to the hitch-pins are placed bars E, of metal, wood, or any other suitable material, for the purpose of equalizing the up and down strain of said strings. These bars,which we term the bearin g-cqualizers, may be retained in position simply by the gripe of the strings; or suitable fastening devices may be applied to regulate their position and retain them securelyin any position which they may occupy.

\Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the sounding board, the sounding-board bridge, and the bri d ge-pins or agraifes, which retain the strin on the sounding-board bridge, of a hitch-pin blocl; provided with terraces for supporting the hitch-pins at difii'erent levels above the soundingboard, one of said terraces being situated above, and the other below, the level of the surface of the sounding-board bridge, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the sounding-board, the sounding-board bridge, the bridge-pins or agraftes, which retain the strings on the sounding-board, and a hitch-pin blocl; pro vided with terraces for supporting the hitchpins at different levels above the soundingboard, of bearing-equalizers inserted between those portions of the strings which extend from the sounding-board bridge to the hitch-pins, substantially as and for the purpose set fortln In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set ourhands and seals this 16th day of September, 1878,

FR. MATHUSHEK.

HUGO MATHUSHEK, JR. Witnesses J. VAN Siurrvoonn,

a i It. s] 

